Table of contents:
- Actually, are warts a disease or not?
- Warts medicine, from medical to natural
- Medicinal warts
- 1. Cantharidin
- 2. Cryotherapy
- 3. Surgical removal of warts
- 4. Medication peeling
- 5. Laser
- 6. Immunotherapy
- Natural remedy for warts
- 1. Aloe vera
- 2. Garlic
- Alternative Warts to Get Rid of Warts
The appearance of warts on the skin is often painless. However, some of you may feel annoyed especially with regard to appearance. The good news is, there are various ways to get rid of warts, both medical and natural remedies.
Actually, are warts a disease or not?
Warts are classified as benign tumors caused by viruses. The main causes of warts are Human papillomavirus (HPV). This virus infects the top layer of the skin and grows very fast.
You can become infected with the HPV virus if you have a cut on your skin or when you touch someone who has the virus. This virus can also spread to someone who uses the same towel, comb, and personal tools as the sufferer.
Warts medicine, from medical to natural
In general, warts can disappear without special treatment. Because, over time your body can build its own resistance system to attack the virus. Unfortunately this takes a long time, can be months or even years.
That's why some people who experience it do various ways to make warts heal faster. Both medically and naturally, you can do various remedies to get rid of warts.
Medicinal warts
Warts are a relatively mild contagious skin disease. However, of course there are some cases that are more severe and require treatment from a doctor. The treatment will be adjusted to the type of wart suffered by the patient. Here are the various options.
1. Cantharidin
Cantharidin is a substance that comes from the named blister beetle Cantharis vesicatoria . This substance has been used for thousands of years in China to treat a number of ailments. This medicine can also be used to get rid of warts.
This medication works by blistering the growing warts to make them easier to remove. How to use it, smear cantharidin on top of the wart and then let it dry before covering with a plaster for 4 - 6 hours.
After that, the plaster is removed and the area that was applied the medicine is washed off with water and soap.
The blisters will then form within 24 - 48 hours. Over the next few days, the blisters will dry out, along with the removal of the wart. Next, the doctor will cut the dead blisters and warts.
This drug will not penetrate the epidermis layer of the skin so it will not cause scars. Due to its toxic potential, use of cantharidin should be monitored and practiced by a doctor.
2. Cryotherapy
Source: Epiphany Dermatology
Apart from warts on the genital area (penis or vagina), most warts on other areas can be removed with cryotherapy . This procedure is recommended as a fairly effective way to get rid of warts, especially for warts on the hands and feet.
This type of therapy is usually done when treatment with salicylic acid is not successful. Cryotherapy This is also your choice if you want a fast treatment.
This procedure can only be done by a doctor. During the procedure, the doctor will cut your wart with a small, sharp knife. The doctor will then apply the frozen substance with a cotton swab or spray it on. Liquid nitrogen is used as a constituent.
Cryotherapy performed under local anesthesia (local anesthetic) to prevent pain during the procedure. However, you don't need too long to complete this treatment.
3. Surgical removal of warts
The operation performed to remove warts is a minor operation where the doctor will remove the skin tissue affected by the wart. This procedure may leave scars.
4. Medication peeling
Drug peeling or a skin peeler can also be used to remove warts. This drug is available in over-the-counter drugs as well as drugs that must use a doctor's prescription.
Usually, over-the-counter drugs that can be purchased at the pharmacy are used to treat milder warts. One of the most common substances in this drug is salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid (salicylic acid) is a substance that is believed to be able to eliminate various skin diseases, including acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, and warts. They come in various forms, including creams, liquids, gels, and plasters.
Salicylic acid can get rid of warts within a few weeks if applied daily and properly. The trick, soak the part of the skin that grows warts in warm water for a few minutes. Then dry the skin and apply the medicine directly to the wart. Leave it for 24 - 48 hours, can use a bandage or without a bandage.
Choose a good product for removing warts. There are some products that are only specific to removing warts on certain areas. You can ask for an explanation from your doctor or pharmacist to determine which type of salicylic acid is right for your condition.
If the warts are worse or there are more of them, it's a good idea to ask for medicine peeling who is stronger than the doctor.
5. Laser
Laser treatment may be chosen if the wart does not respond to medication or other procedures. One of the types of treatment performed is by pulsed-dye laser which can burn the tiny blood vessels in infected tissue.
Before undergoing this treatment, the doctor will give you an anesthetic injection first. Then, the laser is directed at the area affected by the wart. Later the skin tissue will die and make the wart come off.
Please note, the evidence of the effectiveness of this procedure is still limited. In addition, lasers can also cause pain and cause injury.
6. Immunotherapy
This treatment is also used for patients who have warts that are more severe and difficult to heal. Immunotherapy uses the patient's own immune system to fight the virus.
One type, immunotherapy uses a substance called diphencyprone (DCP). DCP is a sensitizing agent that when applied to skin affected by warts can cause a mild allergic reaction. This reaction can later get rid of the wart.
Natural remedy for warts
Apart from using doctor's medication and medical treatment, it turns out that there are several ingredients that have the potential to treat warts. Anything?
1. Aloe vera
Aloe vera is usually used to reduce symptoms of skin diseases such as psoriasis because of its properties that can relieve itching and burning. This ingredient also has potential as a natural remedy for treating warts.
A 2016 study proved that Aloe vera can work against the herpes simplex virus type 1, but there are no specific studies looking at its benefits for the HPV virus.
However, there is nothing wrong with trying aloe vera as a natural wart remedy. The trick, apply aloe vera gel or meat on the wart two to three times a day. Repeat the steps for a few days until the wart disappears.
2. Garlic
Garlic is known to have antiviral and antibacterial components that may help in the treatment of warts.
To use it, apply a little olive oil on the affected area, then put a thin slice of garlic and cover it with a plaster, leave it overnight. Repeat the steps every night for two weeks or until the warts begin to disappear.
Alternative Warts to Get Rid of Warts
Apart from medication, there are other steps that are often taken as a way to get rid of warts, namely by placing duct tape on your warts. You just do it for about six days. After that, remove the tape and soak the area of the skin affected by the wart with warm water and wash it.
Several studies have found that duct tape treatment is more effective than the liquid nitrogen freezing method.
However, research in subsequent years even revealed no significant difference between the two. Therefore, the effectiveness of this method still requires further research.
Regardless of which treatment you choose, you should consult all with a dermatologist first so as not to cause problems with your skin.